Department of Paediatrics, University Hospitals Leuven and Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven
Education summary
• MD, KU Leuven (2003)
• PhD in Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven (2009)
• Specialist in Paediatrics and Child Neurology (2012)
• Certified Neuromuscular Rehabilitation specialist (2018)
Career summary
During my training in Medicine at the KU Leuven, I obtained a PhD in the field of gene therapy for bleeding disorders. I completed my training in paediatrics and child neurology at the University Hospitals Leuven, with a clinical and research fellowship at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK), focusing on neuromuscular disorders. Since 2020 I have been the Head of the Neuromuscular Reference Center (NMRC) for children at UZ Leuven, and for more than 15 years I have been actively involved as an investigator in multiple international clinical trials (natural history and therapy development) in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD).
I have an academic position at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration. My main research interests include translational research in neuromuscular disorders, neurocognition and behavioural aspects and brain imaging in DMD, evaluation of novel therapies for neuromuscular disorders, and registries in neuromuscular disorders.
What is the personal or professional achievement you’re most proud of?
I am most proud of the way I have grown into my role leading a highly motivated, multidisciplinary paediatric neuromuscular team in Leuven. While I did not build the clinic from scratch, I have been able to sustain and strengthen it, fostering a culture of collaboration, compassion, and continuous improvement. I am especially proud of maintaining close, meaningful connections with patients and families, ensuring that clinical care remains deeply personal despite the demands of research and coordination. On a more personal level, I take pride in the ongoing, sometimes messy but always rewarding challenge of combining my professional responsibilities with raising two daughters into strong, thoughtful individuals, people I hope to be proud of not just when they grow up, but every day along the way.
Why did you first join the WMS?
I joined the WMS in 2014 to connect with peers and mentors who share a passion for translational research and clinical excellence in neuromuscular medicine. The Society has since been an inspiring community and a valuable platform for learning and contributing.
What is your goal in joining the Executive Board?
When I think of the WMS, I think of excellence, inclusiveness, and a shared commitment to advancing care for individuals with neuromuscular diseases. The WMS is not just a scientific society, it is a community built on collaboration, mentorship, and innovation.
Two quotes from Nelson Mandela reflect the values that guide both my professional and personal life: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” and “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” These words inspire my dedication to improving the lives of children with neuromuscular disorders and their families, and they resonate with the mission of WMS as a driver of meaningful global impact.
If elected to the Executive Board, I hope to support the WMS in promoting excellence in care and research across the life span in a collaborative spirit. I hope to contribute particularly by strengthening the WMS’s support for paediatric neuromuscular clinicians and researchers worldwide, with a focus on early-career professionals and international inclusivity. I believe that together, we can continue to turn challenges into opportunities, and science into lives changed.
